Chapter 11: Gathering Herbs

Tang Xiaorou smiled sweetly. “I’m just getting some rice.” She went to the kitchen and brought back a large bowl of mixed rice.

“Tang Erya (Tang Xiaorou), stop! That’s our rice!”

Grandma Tang shouted, but after touching her shoulder wound, she didn’t dare to approach. This granddaughter was too crazy; she was afraid of being cut again.

Li Cuilan wanted to stop her, but seeing everyone at the table picking at the chicken, and the large plate of chicken was almost empty, she forgot about stopping Tang Xiaorou and quickly sat down to eat.

Tang Xiaorou didn’t expect it to be so easy this time. She glanced at the Tang family, then carried the bowl of rice back.

Not long after Tang Xiaorou left, the stir-fried chicken and soup on the Tang family’s table were all gone. Only then did they remember the large bowl of rice Tang Xiaorou had taken.

“Tang Erya is getting more and more outrageous.”

Grandpa Tang said coldly, then looked at Tang Jianshe. “Jianshe, this is your family matter. I hope you can handle it. If you let those mother and daughter cause trouble again, our family will be in chaos.”

“Father, I understand.”

Seeing Tang Jianshe’s response, Grandpa Tang’s expression improved. “Then solve it quickly.”

Tang Jianhua also looked at his younger brother. “Jianshe, it’s not that I’m saying this, but you’re being controlled by Qin Xueqiong and Tang Erya. This won’t do. If you can’t handle it alone, your older brother will help you.”

Before Tang Jianshe could speak, Grandpa Tang said, “Hurry up and thank your older brother.”

Tang Jianshe turned to Tang Jianhua. “Brother, thank you. I’ll call you if I need help.”

Since childhood, Grandpa Tang had always favored his eldest son, thinking he was perfect in every way. But he was cold towards Tang Jianshe.  Just now, he had a cold face when scolding him, but when facing his eldest son, Grandpa Tang always smiled.

Even if his eldest son made mistakes when he was young, Grandpa Tang wouldn’t blame him. But if Tang Jianshe made the slightest mistake, Grandpa Tang would punish him.

Thinking of this, Tang Jianshe felt even worse.

In contrast to Tang Jianshe, Tang Xiaorou was in a very good mood. After bringing the rice back, the four of them ate a satisfying meal of rice soaked in chicken soup.

“Mom, your chicken soup is so delicious. Your cooking skills are better than those chefs.” She couldn’t cook, so she ate mostly at restaurants. Qin Xueqiong’s cooking skills were better than those of ordinary chefs.

Qin Xueqiong waved her hand. “It’s not as good as you say. Those chefs in state-run restaurants are skilled. I heard their dishes are delicious.”  She hadn’t actually eaten there, but everyone who had been to a state-run restaurant said the food was delicious.

Hearing this, Tang Xiaorou waved her hand. “Then next time we’ll go to a state-run restaurant to try it.”

“Eat… go eat…”

Little Yan nodded in agreement. Little Liang quickly pulled her, and Qin Xueqiong noticed the bruises on Little Yan’s sleeve.

Tang Xiaorou sighed and recounted the incident.

After listening, Qin Xueqiong felt even more pity for the two children. “Little Liang, Little Yan, you won’t be beaten or bullied anymore. We’ll take good care of you.”

Little Liang and Little Yan felt Qin Xueqiong’s affection, and after drinking the chicken soup she made, they became closer to their grandmother and snuggled up to her.

Tang Xiaorou continued, “These two children still have bruises. I’ll go up the mountain tomorrow morning to see if there are any suitable herbs. If there are, I’ll pick some back for them to use externally.”

“Gather herbs?”

Qin Xueqiong looked at her daughter in surprise. “When did you learn about herbs?”

Tang Xiaorou had already considered this question, so she explained, “Mom, do you remember how I used to run outside when I was little? Sometimes I’d be gone for an hour or two.”

Speaking of this, Qin Xueqiong remembered. She nodded. “Yes, you’ve always been like that since you were little. Sometimes I had to go out to find you.”

Tang Xiaorou leaned close to Qin Xueqiong’s ear. “Actually… I went to the cowshed.”

The truth was different. Since she was a child, Tang Xiaorou had often been beaten and bullied. To avoid worrying her mother, she would often run away and cry secretly, only returning after she had cried.

Thinking of this, Tang Xiaorou sighed. One daughter who never complained to avoid worrying her mother, and one mother who tried to endure everything to raise her daughter and let her marry to escape the Tang family.  Their lack of communication caused them to endure the Tang family’s torment for so long.

Qin Xueqiong’s face changed when she heard this. “Xiaorou, how could you go there?”

“Mom, remember when I fell on the mountain when I was little? Old Man Song saved me. So whenever I had time, I would secretly go to see him. Old Man Song taught me a lot. He taught me about herbs and a little medicine.”

Qin Xueqiong remembered her daughter’s injured forehead. She thought her daughter would be scarred, but she wasn’t, thanks to the herbs someone had applied. “So Old Man Song saved you then? Why didn’t you mention this before?”

“Old Man Song told me not to. He also told me not to use what he taught me, saying it would give people a handle on me.”

Qin Xueqiong nodded quickly. “Old Man Song was thoughtful. It’s indeed not good for people to know you know Chinese medicine.” But thinking about gathering herbs tomorrow, she worried again. “Should we still go tomorrow?”

“We should. I heard it’s not as strict recently. Besides, villagers also gather common herbs, so it should be fine.”

Hearing this, Qin Xueqiong felt relieved. Then they washed up with the children and made everyone a cup of malted milk before bed.

Tang Jianshe was locked outside the room again. He was about to kick the door when he saw a flash of cold light through the crack.  Thinking of the increasingly skilled granddaughter and her sickle, he shrank back and cursed angrily, “You little vixen, you wait for me!”

Early the next morning, Tang Xiaorou and Qin Xueqiong took the two children to the mountain.

When Tang Jianshe got up to find them, they were already gone.

“Xiaorou, is this mother-in-law needle really a herb?” This plant grew everywhere on the mountain; she had never seen anyone collect it before.

Tang Xiaorou explained with a smile, “Mom, it’s a herb. It clears heat, detoxifies, promotes blood circulation, and disperses blood stasis.

It’s perfect to use.” She had already dug up several plants.